Chapter 9- Realization
The usual thugs stiffened up, as if suddenly taken by some stomach flu, as they saw the infamous killer and her homeless companion enter the bar. Shura walked up to an empty table and made herself at home. She threw up her feet and crossed her arms behind her head. Haru felt around the table until coming to sit at the chair beside her.
"A chilled bottle of sake" said Shura to their nervous waitress.
"And for you?" asked the woman.
"Just the same thank you." he said.
Shura placed the money for both their orders on the table. Haru accidentally let a small sigh of relief escape him but luckily Shura didn't seem to notice. She had returned to lounging back on her chair. She shut her eyes.
"Hey Haru…" she said.
"What is it Shura-san?" he asked.
"Do you plan to stay in this town forever?"
"Hmm." Haru stroked his chin and continued, "I suppose I don't worry about it. It's peaceful here… mostly. If I got bored, it'd be a difficult journey for a blind man. But I think I could do it if I was sure it was time to go. Right now though, I don't feel that way. I feel I belong here, not in this town, but here in these green fields."
"Heh. You sound so sure about life."
"It's the same for you right? You might be more keen on traveling, but the destination is often a mystery. Even with no guarantee, you…"
"Always pursue my path."
"Exactly."
The waitress returned right then with their drinks. Haru and Shura both indulged themselves, not speaking for another minute. Once their palettes were well refreshed, Haru struck up a conversation.
"Speaking of destinations, where do you plan to go next?"
"It's like you said, it's a mystery. Most of Japan is still untouched by me. I just follow a road and scope out the towns for fights and rumors. But I'm not sure where to go next. The last road sent me a demon that led me back here. I wonder why?"
Shura added, "I'm only kidding. I believe my path is wherever I choose it to be."
"You're a strong woman…" said Haru, "Remember me in your travels Shura."
"It's not like I'm leaving forever. I asked you if you were staying here so I'd know where to find you."
"Is that so? Well, I'll be here sleeping under a shady tree."
"Then that's where I'll find you."
"Hey there… you awake yet?"
Shura's eyes slowly forced themselves open a she heard Haru's leisurely voice. Her vision began to clear. At last, she could see Haru cheekily waving a hand in front of her. Shura scowled at him and caught him by the wrist.
"What's going on Haru?" she asked.
"You drank too much. I'd like to say I brought you to your room, but I can't afford one for you and you wouldn't lend me any money in your condition."
"So where are we?! What hour is it?" she asked.
"Just a bit outside of town. It's more comfortable here. And it's just about sunrise."
"All night huh? My head feels fine oddly enough. Are you telling me the truth?"
"Eh? You're suspecting me of ill intent? How else could you have gotten here?"
Shura said, "Damn, no need to take it so personally."
She stood up. The chill of morning air climbed up her legs as something slipped off of her. She looked down to see a tattered coat. Haru reached down and picked it up.
"I thought you might be a bit cold."
"You didn't have to." she said.
"Why not? There's nothing wrong with friends watching out for each other."
"Friends?" she wondered. She'd never considered the concept, but it made sense. A sudden gust of wind hit them. Shura's bare arms became covered in goose bumps. She felt herself begin to shiver.
"Perhaps I took it back too soon?" he asked.
"It's alright. I can look after myself just f-fine."
"Let me help you…"
"I said I'm f-fine. Damn it. It usually takes more than a breeze to do this."
Shura's eyes widened. Haru was behind her and his hands were resting on her arms. She felt the warmth of his jacket embrace her yet again. But it wasn't that embrace that had left her momentarily speechless.
Haru's hands moved from her arms to her hands.
"Hey, what are you doing?!" she asked.
"Such soft skin…"
Shura's cheeks turned red as she let out a gasp. The sudden rush of heat ran up to her ears. Her senses seemed to be dulling. She wanted to grab Haru by the neck and throw him off. Anything to make him stop. But she also wanted him to continue. With such conflict, she merely stood there in astonishment.
"Shura…"
"Shura… wake up you noisy bitch."
"What?" she asked.
"You're giving me a headache. Now wake up this instant!"
Shura's eyes flew open. She pulled herself to her knees. She looked around and saw no on there. After a moment of confusion, her eyes narrowed.
"What is it?" she asked.
Her demon answered, "You sounded like you were having a nightmare. Just kidding, it sounded like you were having a lot of fun."
Shura hissed. She shut her eyes and rose to her feet.
Why? Why was I dreaming about him?
"The silent treatment?" asked the demon, "You don't want to ask me what I heard?"
Shura stopped. She peered down to the spaulder strapped to her left shoulder. She knew she must have been talking in her sleep.
"What does it matter?" she asked as her tone became darker.
"Heh heh. It was just so funny to hear the blood hungry Oni having a romantic dream about her love."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
The demon answered, "Don't play coy with me."
"I didn't ask to dream about him. It's not like I wanted to."
"But you don't really mind it do you? Other than it being totally embarrassing of course."
"Enough! It was a dream. It means nothing. He's just a… fr"
"A friend? Don't make me laugh? It sounded like something else entirely."
"What are you talking about?"
The demon was silent for a second. Her question sounded genuine, as if something had disarmed her. He himself was having trouble answering her. The spirit had no idea why she was playing clueless.
Unless… No! It couldn't be!
It now dawned on him the reason of her ignorance.
"You… You have no idea about any of this do you?"
Shura was silent, though her eyebrows were furrowed.
The demon said, "Shura, haven't you ever had feelings for someone before? At least, been attracted to them?"
"That's…" she said, "Of course I've found men attractive. I've just..."
She grit her teeth. "I've devoted my life to battle, nothing else has mattered."
"You can't be serious? Then why are you always speaking suggestively? Why do you dress in such a seductive manner?"
"I do not."
The demon laughed.
Shura replied, "I just don't deal well with rules. So I spoke the way I was told not to. I dressed how I wasn't supposed to."
"You're a real piece of work human. You know that?"
"I don't want to hear criticism from a freeloading failure such as yourself."
"But Shura, for a human, you are a failure. You've failed your entire life in one aspect… romance. You're an adult and this is the first time you've even dreamt about someone?"
Shura knew it wasn't that simple. It was the first time she'd felt her heartbeat, her cheeks flush, and also… the first time she'd had a friend. But there was no way in hell she was giving that demon such facts. It was uncomfortable enough without having him mock her newfound emotions.
"Be silent." she said, "You've grown petty in your passiveness."
She began to make her way down the woodland path. Shura recalled now the events of the day before. She remembered Haru and herself getting drinks together. True enough she had discovered her limit and passed out. But when she'd woken up Haru had been still sitting there. He'd been quietly singing a song she knew. Her head was aching so she spent the night in that town. They'd slept together again that day sitting against the tavern's wall.
Shura's cheeks turned red again.
Am I really attracted to this man? Do I even have feelings for him too? This is ridiculous.
Author's Note: I'm not sure if Shura's innuendos in SCIV are her genuinely flirting or her projecting her love of battle with sexual phrases. I took the second interpretation for this story and expanded on it, with her banter stemming from rebelliousness. I hope you don't find this unacceptably out of character.
Additional note: In-game, she could just be saying them to mess with her opponent, unless she really was hitting on the Lizardman… I thought not.